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BTS frenzy forces McDonald's to close Indonesian outlets amid Covid-19 fears

By Ishika Dangayach on Jun 11, 2021 | 04:31 AM IST

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McDonald's was forced to temporarily close certain Indonesian outlets earlier this week after the release of a limited-edition meal inspired by K-pop group BTS ignited frenzied enthusiasm and worries of coronavirus spread.

On Wednesday, videos provided by Reuters showed scenes of mayhem, with toppled tables and chairs and delivery riders massing inside and outside of eateries, raising fears of super-spreader events in a nation with one of Asia's most persistent COVID-19 outbreaks.

The international fast-food company that recently collaborated with the K-Pop band to create a unique meal consisting of 10 chicken nuggets, chips, a cola, and two sauces which was revealed in 50 countries worldwide.

BTS supporters, known as ARMY, did their best in every region to obtain not only the snack but also the purple wrappings, which were exclusively designed to match the fandom's color.

According to a report by the Indonesian news website Antara, authorities were forced to interfere when huge lines were noticed at several McDonald's locations to prevent violations of health rules. According to the article, Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria reported that officials had ordered McDonald's outlets to close for 24 hours. The city was forced to close 32 McDonald's locations for 24 hours on Wednesday afternoon, and they reopened to serve customers on Thursday.

The Jakarta Police Department summoned the managers of dozens of Indonesian McDonald's locations to ask them about the current BTS meal, which prompted the enormous purchase, the report stated.

There have been large BTS buildups worldwide, including the Philippines, where a special app has been built and footage of McDonald's personnel at several locations copying the boy band's moves that have appeared on social media applications like TikTok.

The limited-edition meal was released on May 26 to coincide with the group's eighth anniversary.


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